It’s been a while since we last saw The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto). Not only do we have a new trailer, but we have a release date. The good news is we’ll see Maomao work her magic this month on October 22. Jinshi will be on hand to keep her in line while he pulls strings behind the scenes.
Natsu Hyuga began posting The Apothecary Diaries to Shosetsuka ni Naro on October 27, 2011. Shufunotomo picked up the publishing rights and attached the artist Touko Shino to adapt the series to the light novel format. Fourteen volumes have been published as of August 29, 2014, on the pages of Hero Bunko.
The royal palace and the Emperor’s “garden” are tended to by the following characters.
- Maomao — Aoi Yoki (Tsuyu Asui in My Hero Academia) Kidnapped and sold as a slave in the harem quarters, Maomao rose to become Jinshi’s confidant. She is a highly skilled apothecary with a keen eye for detail.
- Jinshi — Takahiro Sakurai (Cloud Strife in Final Fantasy VII) An influential eunuch who operates behind the scenes to safeguard the Emperor and ensure his success. He has more secrets than anyone realizes.
- Gyokuyo — Yoko Hikasa (Weiss Schnee in RWBY: Ice Queendom) The Noble Consort of the Jade Palace, and wife of the Emperor. She is kind and generally light-spirited but is as keen of mind as Jinchi.
Toho Animation has maintained a home page and official Twitter page to promote The Apothecary Diaries. Fans and potential viewers can find additional series information and bonuses, such as key visuals.
Toho Animation’s New Genius
Toho Animation is a studio every good otaku should know. The company has been around since August 12, 1932, when Ichizo Kobayashi founded it. Toho’s works are legendary, from Godzilla to Akira Kurosawa’s works, Eiji Tsuburaya, and Ishiro Honda.
Of course, that’s Toho as a whole. We’re talking about Toho Animation, which saw its founding in 2012. As one of Japan’s top three film distributors, it has had its hands on some of the best series. Monster Musume, Himouto! Umaru-chan, and Spy × Family were brought to the masses by Toho Animation. Yep, all magical girls with keen eyes for detail.
From Apothecary’s Assistant to Palace Maid, and Then Back to Apothecary
Maomao has had quite an eventful life in recent times. The Apothecary Diaries chronicles her early life working as her adopted father’s assistant as an apothecary in the red light district. She’s soon kidnapped by slavers and sold to the imperial palace, where she’s put to work as a maid. However, her cleaning duties lead her to a conspiracy where the Emperor’s consorts are taken ill.
Maomao discerns that their face powder is laced with lead and leaves warnings behind to save the women’s lives. She’d prefer not to get involved with palace politics, so her cautions are enough. Her plans end when Jinshi, a high-ranking eunuch, uncovers her involvement and tasks her with discovering the truth behind the face powder.
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Are you going to watch The Apothecary Diaries? Have you read the manga or novel? Which imperial consort is your favorite? Seriously, it’s too hard to choose between Gyokuyo and Lihua. They are some fine royal women. Let us know in the comments below.
